Earth Day Work Day at MOFGA's Common Ground Education CenterMOFGA Announcements - 3/31/2009.The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) will host a spring volunteer work party at its Common Ground Education Center in Unity on Saturday, April 18th. Activities will run from 9:00am to 3:00 pm.

Root cause of milk price crash studiesBangor Daily News - 3/31/2009.By Sharon Kiley Mack – Maine dairy farmers are joining their colleagues across the country in rebutting claims that a glut of milk is causing the current milk price collapse. They are instead blaming a broken dairy pricing system and massive imports as the root causes.

Protect kids from effects of pesticidesBangor Daily News - 3/31/2009.Op-ed by Heather Spalding – The ubiquitous spread of pesticide residues is cause for alarm and public education, and yet access to information about pesticide use in Maine is complicated and challenging. Fortunately, the Legislature has an opportunity to establish a simple, comprehensive system to ensure notification of residents most at risk from pesticides drift.

Farmers leery of food bills in D.C.Bangor Daily News - 3/30/2009.Russell Libby, executive director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, had three key bits of advice for farmers gathered in Unity on Saturday: 1. The information being circulated, mainly through the Internet, about food security bills being proposed in Washington is not accurate; 2. New food safety regulations could be both a blessing and a curse for Maine’s small farmers; 3. Plant melons.

Augusta Civic Center, 76 Community Dr., Augusta. Join Maine Farmland Trust along with MOFGA and others for a day of discussions on the challenges of providing for a farm’s future when a farmer is ready to step back from the work, and how next generation farmers can position themselves to take on the stewardship of farmlands in transition. Check the Maine Farmland Trust website for details.

Sunday, 1 p.m., 769 Congress Street, Portland Maine. Join Chef Frank Giglio as we learn about and make mead! In this class you will learn the step by step method for preparing your own medicinal mead at home. Each student will start a batch of mead during the class and be able to take it home to ferment and later enjoy. Fee information and registration here: http://www.mofgastore.org/product.sc?productId=270&categoryId=5. Questions? Email alibby@mofga.org.

Tuesday, Maine Civic Center, Augusta. MOFGA offers presentations and discussion groups covering a wide range of sustainable agriculture subjects. Presentations are free and open to the public, and are held in the Washington/York Room, the Piscataquis/Sagadahoc Room, and the Oxford Room. No pre-registration required. MOFGA also has an information exhibit during all three days of the Trades Show. MOFGA members are encouraged to attend the Association's Annual Meeting, which will be held from 1:30 to 3:00 in the Piscataquis/Sagadahoc Room.

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., MOFGA's Common Ground Education Center, Unity. Instructor is David Smith of Sparky's Apiaries. Our beekeeping short course will cover the essentials to get you going in the world of beekeeping. Fee: $50 for MOFGA members; $75 for non-members. More information.